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Could 'Zombie Cells' be behind long COVID? new study aims to find out

NCT ID NCT04903132

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Mayo Clinic Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing This study
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study examines whether senescent cells—sometimes called 'zombie cells' that accumulate with age—contribute to Long-Hauler Syndrome, a condition where COVID-19 symptoms persist long after the initial infection. Researchers at Mayo Clinic will compare markers of cellular aging in 200 adults who have had COVID-19, including those with Long-Hauler Syndrome and healthy controls. If a strong link is found, it may support launching a future trial of senolytic drugs, which are designed to clear these aged cells from the body.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If a link is found, this could pave the way for a trial of senolytic drugs to treat Long-Hauler Syndrome.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study that only looks for correlations, not a treatment test. It may not lead to any therapy.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

About 200 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Mar 2021

Expected to finish

Dec 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

Longhauler's Cohort: Patients must be at least 18 years or older, have a positive PCR or antibody test within six months, and report any ongoing symptoms associated with Post-COVID or Long-Haulers Syndrome. Control Cohort: Patients must be at least 18 years or older, have not had a known case of COVID-19 or Longhauler's syndrome. COVID Control Cohort: Patients must be at least 18 years or older and have had COVID-19 but no known Longhauler's syndrome.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Longhauler's Cohort - Inclusion Criteria: * Ability to give informed consent or LAR. * At least 18 years old. * Ability of subject or LAR to read and speak the English language. * Positive PCR or antibody test within 12 months of initial study visit. * Patient of the Long-Hauler Syndrome clinic and differential diagnosis of Long-Hauler Syndrome. Exclusion Criteria: * Any potential participant who refuses medical record review. * Pregnant females. * Incarcerated individuals. * Inability to cooperate or any medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, interferes with the evaluation of the study objectives or increases the subject's risk by participating in the study. Control Cohort - Inclusion Criteria: * Ability to give informed consent * At least 18 years old * Ability of subject to read and speak the English language Exclusion Criteria: * Known case of COVID-19. * Any potential participant who refuses medical record review. * Pregnant females. * Incarcerated individuals. * Inability to cooperate or any medical condition that interferes with the evaluation of the study objectives or increases the subject's risk by participating in the study. COVID-19 Control Cohort Inclusion Criteria: * Ability to give informed consent. * At least 18 years old. * Ability of subject to read and speak the English language. * Known case of COVID-19. Exclusion Criteria: * Known Longhauler's syndrome/Post-COVID * Any potential participant who refuses medical record review. * Pregnant females. * Incarcerated individuals. * Inability to cooperate or any medical condition that interferes with the evaluation of the study objectives or increases the subject's risk by participating in the study.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

COVID-19 long COVID-19

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SARS-COV2 infection

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Mayo Clinic in Rochester

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.